Version: 2008
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Full user review

  • 43 out of 61 people found this review helpful

    1.0 stars

    "No Firewire - No Thanks"

    by dcrigger on October 18, 2008

    Pros: faster overall, best price/performance slot for most users, but...

    Cons: the "hub for our digital lifestyle"? The one "for the rest of us" which doesn't connect to any but a small handful of camcorders? (listed as USB on Amazon doesn't mean they actually work with OSX) - and for audio/music people - forget about it.

    Summary: Perfect for the person wanting the ultimate in style and small size, whose needs can do with out any real connectivity.... (and USB 2.0 is simply not up to external storage, video transfer, and/or audio/midi all by itself - heck, is barely qualified to do them one at a time)

    Oh but wait! Isn't that why the Macbook Air is available. Without FW (or a express card slot) the new Macbook is less a "Macbook Pro Lite" than a Macbook Air Fat.

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  • 9 replies to this review
  • reply by: mikestatic1 on May 2, 2009

    I'm an audio / music person, and mine works perfect for me with Logic Studio. It could be you aren't familiar enough with the actual requirements or don't have the skills.

  • reply by: 53calvin on February 3, 2009

    It would seem people are more interested in writing about Apple than a review of the computer.

  • reply by: Practical-Mac on December 19, 2008

    When omitting an item adversely effects the product, then YES, it is relent to the product. FW allow for much faster and more reliable data transfers, most video cameras use FW and the MB can do video editing (speed is a pro thing) you have Target Disk Mode not just for regular file transfer, but in case of emergencies as well.

    More dangerous is the precedent that companies that make FireWire peripherals will stop doing so, or at the very least price for FW equipment will go up.

    Any bit of thought will expand on the negative consequences.

    So yes, lack of FW is a very relevant item to consider.

  • reply by:  Brian on November 27, 2008

    Excellent review, pointed out the major flaw that prevents me from upgrading.

    My Macbook has a Firewire port and I will refuse to upgrade to another Macbook unless Apple decides to LISTEN to their customers!

    Allot of folks (myself included) have investments in hardware that simply can't be trashed because Apple decides it's not important for the 13" Macbook.

    But the truth is that the 13" size is VERY IMPORTANT to allot of us consumers.

    We need Firewire!

    Apple is acting like Microsoft these days - too big to care about their customers needs!

  • reply by: tjt7a on October 21, 2008

    This section of the reviews is meant to allow owners of this technology to post their reviews on the macbook, not to criticize it for some very slight deviation from personal preference.
    The lack of a firewire port indicates Apple's direction with bus interface technologies. To review the macbook solely on the lack of this port is short-sighted.

  • reply by: KeeganHill on October 20, 2008

    Firewire is a niche jack anyways, what's worst is that they didn''t add an eSATA/USB hybrid plug in it's place.

  • reply by: mtrela on October 20, 2008

    I would not give it 1 star because it doesn't have FireWire but I agree with the reviewer. I would never buy it because it doesn't have Fire Wire port. All of the video camcorders that I use transfer video with FireWire only. How am I suppose to transfer my video now? Should I go and "upgrade" my video equipment? Besides I think FireWire is much faster and easier to recongnize when device is plugged in than USB 2. I only use FireWire Hard Drives for backups for my Mac Book and Mac Book Pro.

    Why did Apple do it?? Why?!

  • reply by: random truth on October 19, 2008

    Thats like giving a pc laptop a 1 star because it lacks a dvi port. Most laptops dont even include firewire. It would be more realistic to give the Lenevo X200 a 1 star because it has no trackpad.

  • reply by: Jimmygotajobatgoogle on October 18, 2008

    dude, many people use USB2.0 for external storage. MBA is for business people, and the previous MB don't have an express slot, what make you think then new MB will have one.

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